Letter: Rubio, DeSantis addressing VA flap

Rubio, DeSantis addressing VA flap

There needs to be clarification of a comment made in a letter to The Record titled, “Is there something behind all this VA foot-dragging?”

Although the writer raises a valid point in questioning the reason for the innumerable delays, the writer is obviously unaware of the prodigious efforts taking place behind the scenes.

The county has, in fact, reached out to both of our elected officials to try and break the impasse and find a viable solution. We have been in daily contact with Rep. Ron DeSantis’ district staff to obtain viable solutions to the VA clinic relocation and potential interruption of critical services to our veterans.

A second letter signed by both DeSantis and Rubio addressed the Government Services Administration’s imposed leasing moratorium, which led to authorization for the VA to proceed with an interim site lease.

DeSantis also sent a letter to the VA demanding a response to the Board of County Commissioners’ generous proposal to build a permanent site at the new Health and Human Services building.

Although the Veterans Administration’s lack of responsiveness remains a challenge, St. Johns County, Rep. DeSantis and Sen. Rubio are committed to a successful outcome for our veterans.

DeSantis is currently pushing for a meeting with newly appointed Secretary Bob McDonald to encourage him to take charge, intervene and bring us to an immediate and successful resolution to this critical issue.

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it is unfortunate this corrective letter was published after the election. This kind of misinformation was posted both in the Record and online leading up to the election. It conveyed the message that the current Commisssion Board and the County Administration wasn't doing an effective job in addressing the VA site problem in St. Johns County.

I used the website to explain why readers of the Record were being misinformed by people like Richard Tallman, etc. The Record's rules prevented me from presenting my frustration in the hard copy of the Record. To what extent did misinformation like this have an effect on the election? We will never know. But it unfortunate that the community newspaper knowingly published misinformation like this without correction.

I was not the author of the letter to the editor titled, "Is there something behind all this VA foot dragging?" Another one of your pitiful little Democrat lies. You appear to have been well trained by your Obama handlers. Michael Ryan should have provided the information concerning the congressional involvement in the VA site search before the elections since he is paid by the county to keep everyone informed about the current events in the puzzle palace otherwise known as the county administration building. Too bad that the Department of Veterans Affairs doesn't get too excited about politically motivated attempts to be bullied into a decision that may not be in the best interest of veterans. AMERICA...LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT.

"I fail to understand the nasty accusations against the VA which appear to be simply an attempt to cover the simple ignorance and incompetence of some people at the top of county government administration. Why have those same people failed to maintain contact with VA contracting officials and most importantly why have they not asked for assistance from elected federal representatives of the St Johns County area? Why is the county rushing around in the eleventh hour attempting to make it look as if they really give a damn about where the VA clinic is located? Ah yes, because it is an election year. Mystery solved by an old veteran. SOS!"

Those were your words not mine. Name calling really doesn't distract anyone from YOUR ignorance.

in context, see Jim Sutton comments when Richard and I were presenting our opposing viewpoints.

Jim Sutton 08/15/14 - 01:28 pm 21 VA flap
One thing that keeps getting lost in the issue it that the initial offer from the county was to simply keep the current lease agreement with the VA - for the same amount - but in the brand new facility. That's totally outside the VA procurement process. Also, had it agreed to that initial plan, the county;s idea was to design the new building around the VA clinic, rather than having to build another, stand-alone structure. The VA would then have cost-shared all the expensive extras of its own structure - utilities, security and much more.

With one swipe of his Democrat pen the messiah could have forced the location of the VA outpatient clinic into the county health and human services building. Looks like the little State Democrat Committeeman has zero influence on his ultimate leader's decisions to ignore the constitution. It is so refreshing to know that the VA places the well being of veterans above the desires of Democrat draft dodgers in their decisions as to where to locate a VA outpatient clinic.